288 FAMILIAR COLLOQUIES. approach the Lord's table. Fi. That they take the sacrament fasting is a human ordinance; but that they lay aside wrath before they come to the Lord's table is a command of the Lord himself. Bu. But then, again, how preposterously do we judge concerning pei'jury ? He is accounted an infamous person who swears he has paid a debt, when it is proved he has not. But perjury is not charged upon a priest who publicly lives unchastely, though he publicly profess a life of chastity. Fi. Why do you not tell this to the bishop's vicars, who swear before the altar that they have found all that they present to be entered into holy orders to be fit persons in age, learning, and manners; when for the most part there are scarce two or three that are tolerable, and most of them scarce fit to follow the plough ] Bu. He is punished, that being provoked swears in a passion; but they that forswear themselves every three words they speak escape scot-free. Fi. But they do not swear from their hearts. Bu. By the same colourable pretence you may vindicate a man that kills another, saying, he did not do it in his heart. Perjury is not lawful either in jest or earnest; and it would make the crime the greater to kill a man in jest. Fi. What if we should weigh the oaths princes take at their coronation in the same scale ? Bu. These things, though indeed they are very serious matters, being done customarily, are not accounted perjuries. There is the same complaint concerning vows. The vow of matrimony is without doubt of divine right ; yet it is dissolved by entering into a monastic life of man's invention. And though there is no vow more religious than that of baptism, yet he that changes his habit or his place is sought after, apprehended, confined, and some- times put to death for the honovir of the order, as though he had murdered his father; but those whose lives are diametrically repugnant to their baptismal vows, in that they serve mammon, their bellies, and the pomps of this world, are in mighty esteem, are never charged with breaking their vow, nor upbraided, nor called apostates, but are reckoned good Christians. Bu. The common people have the like esteem of good and bad deeds, and the safeguard of virtue. What a scandal is it for a maid to be overcome 1 But a lying, slanderous tongue, and a malicious, envious mind are greater crimes : and where is it that a small theft is not punished more severely than adultery 1 ? Nobody will willingly keep him company that has been accused of theft; but it is accounted a piece of honour to hold a familiarity with such as are drenched in adultery. Nobody will deign to marry a daughter to a hangman, who executes the law for a livelihood, and a judge does the same ; but they have no aversion at all to the affinity of a soldier, who has run away from his parents, and listed himself a soldier for hire, and is defiled with all the rapes, thefts, sacrileges, murders, and other crimes, that used to be committed in their marches, camps, and retreats ; this may be taken for a son-in-law, and though he be worse than any hangman, a maid may love him dearly, and account him a noble personage. He that steals a little money must be hanged ; but they that cheat the public of their money and impoverish thousands by monopolies, extortions, and tricking and cheating are held in great esteem. Fi. They that poison one person are hanged for it ; but they that poison a whole nation with infectious provisions go unpunished.
